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17 Suffolk J. Trial & App. Advoc. 1 (2012)

handle is hein.journals/sujoriapv17 and id is 1 raw text is: A QUESTION OF TASTE: TOUCHSTONES FOR DETERMINING THE CERTIFIABILITY OF CLASSWIDE CLAIMS FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF UNDER RULE 23 OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE Randy D. Gordon* I. IN TR O D U C TIO N ....................................................................................................... 1 II. AN OVERVIEW OF CLASS ACTION PROCEDURE .................................................. 2 III. THE SCOPE OF RULE 23(B) CLASS ACTIONS ......................................................... 7 A. Are There More Appropriate or Efficient Ways to Litigate the C laim s A lleged? .............................................................................. 10 1. Should the Case Be a Derivative Action? ................................... 11 2. Is a Class Action Necessary? ..................................................... 13 B. Is the Subject Matter of the Case Appropriate for Litigation at All? ..... 15 C. Is a Mandatory Class Appropriate on the Facts Alleged? ................. 15 1. Is the Defendant's Conduct Generally Applicable to the C lass? .................................................................................... . . . 16 2. There Are Conflicts Among the Class and, Therefore, It Fails for Lack of Cohesiveness .......................................................... 18 3. Is the Principal Dispute Political? .......................................... 20 4. Is Injunctive or Declaratory Relief Appropriate? ........................ 22 5. Do Class Conflicts Preclude Certification? ................................. 26 IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................ 33 I. INTRODUCTION Almost since the birth of modem class action procedure in 1966, the device has attracted champions, who laud it as one of the most socially * Ph.D., University of Edinburgh; LL.M., Columbia University School of Law; J.D., Washburn University School of Law; Ph.D., M.A., B.A., University of Kansas. Randy D. Gordon is a Partner with the firm of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, and an Adjunct Professor of Law and Lecturer in English at Southern Methodist University (SMU). The author wishes to thank Tate L. Hemingson, Ph.D., his research assistant and a 2011 graduate of the Dedman School of Law at SMU, for his considerable contribution to the authorities cited below. And thanks also to Mark Bayer and Craig Florence, firm colleagues, for their helpful insight regarding many of the issues discussed below. The views expressed in this Article are the author's alone and do not necessarily represent those of the firm or its clients.